Trans Military Advocacy

Allow Transgender Veterans to Correct Military Discharge Documentation to Account for a Change in Name and Gender

The LGBT Bar’s Military Law Working Group has completed a project calling on the Administration to allow transgender military veterans an opportunity to change their military discharge paperwork (known as DD 214) to reflect their current name and gender.

DD 214 forms are frequently required to obtain benefits such as medical care, educational opportunities, preferential status while seeking employment, shopping on military bases and receiving benefits for dependents. Incorrect paperwork can cause significant obstacles and discrimination for transgender veterans.

The Military Working Group has released a report explaining how and why the Administration should allow transgender veterans to amend their DD 214s.

Vets Will Receive New Military Paperwork Reflecting Their Correct Names

Washington, DC – The National LGBT Bar Association – the country’s largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied legal professionals – announced today that the Army Board for the Correction of Military Records (BCMR) and Navy Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) will issue new military discharge paperwork (known as Form DD-214) to three transgender veterans, reflecting their correct names and identities… Read our full press release here.

Read the redacted copies of the two Army Board for Correction of Military Records decisions (Decision 1, Decision 2) and the Navy Board for Correction of Naval Records decision.

In December 2014, The LGBT Bar wrote to Stephen Preston, General Counsel of the Department of Defense, asking the DoD to issue uniform guidance to allow transgender veterans to amend their DD214s. In January, we received this letter in response.